Printing press



E. J. SMITH PRINTING PRESS Filed July 7, 1928 2 SheeES-Sheet 1 E. J. SMITH PRINTINGPRESS Filed y 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 r A rmva Patented Oct. 4, 1932 UNITED STATEfi PATENT OFFICE ERNEST JAMES SMITH, OF LONDON, ENGLAND A'SSIGNOR To THE GOSS PRINTING PRESS COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS PRINTING PRESS Application filed July 7, 1928, Serial No. 290,906, and in Great Britain January 13, 1928.

This invention relates to printing presses and has partlcular reference to means for supporting the paper supply rolls in presses provided with web renewing. mechanism which is preferably but not necessarily of the kind covered by my English Patents-Nos. 260,049, 265,667 and 280,272. The chief object of the present invention is to provide means whereby the paper supply rolls may be placed in their supports without the use of hoisting tackle or overhead lifting mechanism.

According to this invention angularly movable supporting members or arms are provided for each paper supply roll which members or arms can be placed in a position for enabling the paper supply roll to be placed or supported therein and can then be' angularly moved in order to raise the roll into the operative or required position.

Each supply roll may be carried by a pair of supporting arms which may be mounted on a transverse shaft rotatable in the frame of the press and the said shaft may be angularly moved by means of gearing that may be actuated by hand or otherwise for'angularly moving the arms carrying the paper supply roll. The said gearing may comprise a worm sector fixed on the transverse shaft and engaged by a worm on a spindle adapted during the time that one roll (hereinafter referred to as .the active roll) mounted in the supporting arms as aforesaid is in operation so that the webis being drawn therefrom into the press, a new or reserve paper supply roll can be wheeled on a truck into the press ready to be placed in its supporting arms when the latter are in a lowered position. After securing the reserve roll-to the said arms the latter can be angularly moved by operating the gearing pertaining thereto so as to lift the reserve roll into its operative position ready to have the leading end of its web-joined to the web of the active roll as the latter is approaching exhaustion. The active web may pass into the press between the pressure or nipping, rollers of the web joining mechanism and the leading end of the reserve web can be placed between the said pressure rollerswhichcan then be operated to press or .nip the two webs together so that they are uni-ted by adhesive previously applied to the reserve web which is now drawn into the press by the active web so that the latter can be severed from its reel or core. Although any-suitable form of spindle may be provided within the reel or core of each paper supply rollv for supporting the latter inthe said arms it may be preferred to use bungs that engage with the ends of the reel or core in such manner that the roll is freely rotatable whilst supported by the said arms. Suchbungs may be provided on spindles rotatably mounted in the outer ends of the aforesaid supporting arms and one or both of the spindles may be axially movable into or out of engagement with the reel or core. Means may be provided for rotating the paper supply rolls or for controlling the speed of rotation and such means may comprise endless belts or other devices that bear on the peripheral surfaces of the said rolls. The said endless belts or the like may be used for initially rotating the reserve paper supply roll for the web joining operation after which they may be used for controlling the speed of rotation of. the roll as the web is drawn therefrom into the press. If desired however a brake such as a friction or gripping ring may be provided for engaging with one of the bung spindles of each pair to control the speed of rotation of the supply roll and such brake may be operated by hand or by I V supply rolls in position in a printing press,

Figures2and 3 are respectively a transverse view and a plan view showing one of the paper supply rolls carried by its support effect, the same will now'be described more ing arms with the actuating mechanism at 1 represents one of the paper supply rolls: which as shown in Figure 1 may be the active roll from which the web is being drawn into the press and 2 indicates the other paper'supply roll which may be regarded as the reserve roll. 3,-3 indicate the supporting arms for carrying the paper supply rolls, the said arms being mounted in pairs on transverse shafts 4 rotatably mounted in the frame 5 01 the press. Rotatably mounted in rollers or other bearings in the upper ends of'the said arms,'are'spindles 6 which are provided at their outer ends with bungs 7 adapted to engage with the ends of the reels or cores 8 --within the papersupply rolls. One of the aforesaid spindles of each pair is provided with a thrust bearing 9 and the other spindle may be axially movable for enabling it to be moved into and out of engagement with one end of the reel or core 8 when the latter is located against the bung on the spindle having the thrust bearing 9. For the purposev of moving the aforesaid axially movable spindle the latter may be splined in a sleeve 10 which is rotatably mounted in roller bearings 10a in the upper part of the said arm and the outer end of this spindle may be provided with a collar 11 engaged by pins- 12 on a lever 13 pivoted at its lower end to a link let which is pivotallyattached to the said arm 3 carrying this spindle, the upper end of the said'lever being connected to a swivel sleeve or bearing 15' through which passes a screw rod 16 engaging with a" 'Ztl1readed socket l7 and provided with a hand wheel 18 by means of which it can be ro' tated so as to angularly move the lever 13 and impart angular or endwise movement to the spindle 6. lVhen' the paper supply roll is located between the supporting arms 3, one

end of the reel or core of this roll may be placedin engagement with the. bung 7 on the spindle having the thrustbearing 9 and theother spindle may then be axially moved inwardly so that its bung engages with the other end of the reel or core. The supply roll is thereby securely held between and on the bung spindles so that it is rotatably supported in the supporting arms 3 and can be angularly moved by imparting angular movement to the said supporting arms. For the purpose of angularly moving the said arms each transverse shaft 4 is provided with a worm wheel sector 19 that is engaged by a worm 20 on a spindle 21 rotatably mounted in a bracket or bearing 22 on the frame 5. In the example shown the said spindle 21 can be rotated by a handle or crank 23 which may be fitted to the outer end of the said spindle.

By rotating the said handle or crank 23 the worm is rotated so as to'impart angular movement to the worm sector 19 with the result that the shaft is angularly moved, thus causingthe supporting arms 3 to be angularly moved in either direction according'to the direction of rotation of the handle 23 with or without the paper supply roll supported in thesaid arms 3. In the example shown the mechanism for joining the leading end of the web from the reserve roll to the web passing from the active roll into the press is similar tothat described in the specification of my.

English Patent No. 280,272. This mecha nism comprises two pressure rollers 24 mounted on angularly movable arms 25 that can be angularly moved by means of hand levers 26 so that either roller can be moved:

to bear againstthe other roller. Each pressure roller 2 1 is provided with a gripping piece 27, see Figure 5, by means of which the leading end of'the reserve web can be held to the respective pressure roller so as to be retained thereon ready to be pressed against the active web that passes around the other pressure roller for effecting the web joining operation by means of adhesive which is applied to the leading end of the reserve web. In the example shown, endless belts 28 which may be of usual construction are arranged to bear on the outer peripheral surfaces of the paper supply rolls in all positions of the latter and these belts may be operatedso as to initially rotate the reserve roll for the web joining operation and they.

may also be operated to control the speed of rotation of the reserve roll according to requirements during the travel of the web from this roll into the press; For operating the" driving belt 28 so as to initially rotate the reserve supply roll, each of the aforesaid hand levers 26 may be adapted to operate a lever and link mechanism 29, see Figure 5, so that a clutch can be operated in order to couple the shaft 30 of each endless belt with a driv ing shaft; Subsequently the speed of rotation of the drivingshaft of the endless belt may be controlled by suitable mechanism according to requirements during the'running ofthe press as described in the specification of-my prior Patent No. 280,27 2. Instead of employing an endless belt such as aforesaid, a

roller 31having'a rubber or other surface may beprovided for bearing on the peripheral surface of the paper supply roll, the said roller beingadapted to be-rotated by mecha-.

nism similar to that provided for operating the endless belts 28. In the example shown inFigure 1 the transverse shaft 4 carrying the arms 3 for supporting the paper supply rolls may be located one on each side of a sunken part 32 in the floor or foundation supporting the press and in this sunken part a truck or trolley 33 is adapted to travel on rails 34 so that it can be moved backwards and forwards in directions at right angles to the said transverse shafts. When a paper supply roll is to be placed in the press it is mounted on a truck 35 which can be wheeled into the press from the side into a position between the two shafts l on to the truck '33 which can then be moved towards either of the supporting arms .3 that can then be lowered or placed by the worm gearing so I that the bungs on the spindles 6 may engage with the ends of the reel or core in the supply roll as hereinbefore described. After the supply roll has been fixed to the bung spindles in the supporting arms, the latter may be raised by operating the aforesaid worm gearing so as to lift the roll off the truck which may then be removed to receive another IOll. During the running of the active roll a new or reserve roll mounted on a truck35 may be wheeled into the press so as to be supported on the truck 33 which can be moved towards the supporting arms that are to support the reserve roll. The reserve roll may then be mounted on the arms 3 by the bung spindles engaging with the reel or core within the 'roll as hereinbefore described and the arms web, a pit or well 36 may be provided in the aforesaid sunken part 32 so that the operator may stand therein and apply the adhesive conveniently. When the active web is approaching exhaustion, the pressure roller 24: having the reserve web attached thereto may then be moved by means of the hand lever 26 to bear against the other pressure roller 2% so that the two webs are nipped between the 7. pressure rollers and owing to the adhesive are united together. As previously stated the reserve roll may be rotated for this operation and for this purpose the aforesaid endless belt or the roller may be rotated as a result a of the driving shaft 30 being coupled to a rotary shaft in the press by the hand lever 26 operating the link and lever mechanism 29. The active web having the reserve web oined thereto by the adheslve as aforesaid carrles the reserve web into the press and the active web can be severed from its reel or core so that the supply of paper is drawn from the reserve roll which now becomes the active roll. During the running of the web from this roll, the reel or core of the exhausted roll may be removed from the supporting arms and a new or reserve supply roll may be and 6. If desired, the brake may be auto-.

matically operated and for this 7 purpose mechanism may be provided whereby the brake may be applied or removed according to the tension on the web as it travels into the press. An example of such mechanism is illustrated in Figures 7 and 8. This mechanism comprisesa spring influenced roller .37 which is engaged by the web which also passes around other rollers 38 and 39. The roller 38 is slidably mounted in a guide a0 and is connected by a link ll to one end of a bell crank lever 42 whose other end is connected to a link 43 that extends downwardly and is pivotally attached at its lower end to a lever 44 on a shaft 45 carrying a pulley or wheel 46 around'or to whicha cable i7 is secured. The bell crank lever 42 is movable with a worm wheel that is engaged by a worm 56 and is connected to a torsion spring 12a (see Figure 8) located around a shaft r25 so that movement of the roller 38 in its guide 40 due to the tension on the web is effected against the torsional action of this spring. The cable passes around a jockey pulley 48 on an arm 49 angularly movable on the aforesaid shaft, whence it passes around a pulley 50 on the transverse shaft 4 iaving the supporting arms that carry the paper supply roll. The outer extremity of the cable is connected to a bell crank lever 51 that is attached to a brake 52 surrounding a sleeve 10 in which the bung spindle 6 is splined as aforesaid. The said brake band 52 is adapted to be contracted or released by the movement of the bell crank lever 51 due to the operation of the aforesaid links and levers 4:1, 42 and 43 according to the tension on the web passing into the press. The outer ends of the arms l9 are slotted to provide a sliding connection for one end of link 53 whose other end is pivotally attached to a collar 54 or other part mounted so as to move with the transverse shaft 4: andthe supporting arms 3. As the tension on the web passing into the press increases, the roller 38 is slidably moved in its guide 40 in a direction that causes the link 41 to move the bell crank lever42 against the action of the torsion spring 42a for lifting the link 43 and imparting angular movement to the shaft 45 and the pulley 46 with the result that the cable 47 is slackened, thereby enabling the brake band to be released to allow the paper supply roll from which the web is being drawn to rotate at a higher speed. When the tension von the. web decreases the roller 38 slidably moves in its guide 40 in the opposite direction due to the aforesaid torsion spring 42a with the result that the links and levers 41, 42 and 4.3 are moved in a direction'opposite to that aforesaid so that the shaft 45 and the pulley 46 are angularly moved for causing the cable to be wound further around the pulley 46 in.

order to actuate the bell crank lever 51 for contracting the brake band around the sleeve in the cable 47 when the supply roll support mg arms 3 are angularly moved, by reason of the aforesaid link 53 connected to the collar 54-which moves with the said arms 8 angularly displacing the lever 49 so as to change the position of the ockey pulley 48 thus enabling the cable to be maintained taut for any angular position of the supporting arms 3 so that it can be operated by the aforesaid levers and links 41, 42 and 43 according to the tension on the web as hereinbefore described ir- 35 respective of the angular position of the supporting arms 3. The torsional e'fiect of the spring 42a can be varied according to requirements and for this purpose the worm wheel 55 which is movable with the bell crank lever 42 and is connected to the said spring can be rotated by the worm 56 whose spindle is provided with an operating hand Wheel 5641 as shown in Figure 7 The brake band 52 may be operated by hand if desired, for which purpose a hand screw 57 may be mounted so as to be connected to the bell crank lever 51, as shown in Figure 7, for enabling the latter to contract or release the brake band when the hand screw 57 is rotated. The mechanism shown in Figure 7 may be applied to each pair of angularly movable arms so that either supply roll which is in operation may be controlled automatically according to the tension on the web as hereinbefore described. If desired the construction may be such that the lever and link mechanism and the actuating means may be common to the two pairs of supporting arms and in this case two cables 47 are provided so as to extend the collars or the like such as 54 on the two transverse shafts 4, whilst two compensating levers 49 are provided each being connected to its respective collar 54 by a link 53' and carryinga jockey pulley 48. i The cables 47' may be so arranged that one passes above the jockey pulley on one side of the shaft 45 whilst the other cable passes below the other jockey pulley on the other side of the said shaft in order to enable the pulley 45 to which the cables are connected to be angularly moved in the same direction for actuating the brake bands pertaining to the two pairs of supporting arms and at the same time enabling the compensating levers to be actuated by the movement of the said. supporting arms to maintain the cables taut under all conditions.

l/Vhat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. lVeb roll supporting and controlling mechanism including in combination a pair of angularly movable supporting arms for supporting a web roll, a pilot roller movable in accordance with the tension of the web fed from the web roll, a brake for the web roll mounted on one angularly movable arm and means for connecting the brakewiththe movable pilot roller including a cable connected at one end to the brake and at its other end to a support movable by the pilot roller and a take up member intermediate the ends of the cable and movable by movement of the arms tocoinpensate for different positions of the arms to keep the cable taut.

2. Web roll supporting and controlling mechanism including in combination a pair of angularly movable supporting arms for supporting a web roll, a pilot roller movable in accordance with the tension of the web fed from the web roll, a brake for the web roll mounted on one angularly movable arm and means for connecting the brake with the movable pilot rollerincluding a cable connected at one end to the brake and at its other end to a support movable by the pilot roller, a freely rotatable member mounted coaxially with the arms and a take up member between the ro-.

tatable member and the support to maintain the cable taut in all positions of the arms.

3. Web roll supporting and controlling mechanism including in combination a pair of angularly movable supporting arms for supporting a web roll, a pilot roller movable in accordance with the-tension of the web fed from the web roll, a brake for the web roll mounted on one angularly movable arm and means for connecting the brake with the movable pilot roller including a cable connected at one end to the brake and at its other end to a support movable by the pilot roller, a freely rotatable member mounted coaXially with thearms and a take up pulley mounted adjacent to the support and movable by movement of the arms for taking up slack in the cable.

4. Web roll supporting mechanism including in' combination a pair of angularly'm-ovable supporting arms for supporting a web roll, a pilot roller movable in accordance with the tension of the WGb' fed from the web roll, a brake for the web and controlling arms.

ERNEST J. SMITH. 

